Am I wrong to think people who say they aren't scared of Covid just aren't getting it?

[youhadmeatjello]

I know we've all had enough, I've really had enough. We travel in a few days and am just desperately trying not to catch covid so we can actually go forward with our plans.

But I'm so sick of friends and others saying 'oh I'm not scared of Covid anymore so I'm just living my life and not following the rules anymore'

Why can't people see that it's not about being scared of Covid, it's about the fragility of our infrastructure if lots of people are off sick? Do they not realise how many essential services could be impacted?

I'm not calling for a lockdown at all, I don't think it's the right course of action but I do think we should individually take a bit of responsibility and follow mask wearing etc at least.

And people who are saying 'the government have never been bothered about viruses etc before' - sure they have, they panic every time they think there's going to be a bad flu season. But people have forgotten that!

I'm just so frustrated that so many people can't see the bigger picture here, but maybe it's because I have many loved ones who work in essential services and I can already see the strain on them.

I dont fear it anymore but that doesn't mean i'm irresponsible. I'm careful, I do everything you're supposed to do, but unless i'm forced into it i'm not going to lock myself in the house watching the news and updates my every waking moment. My mental health took a huge dive about 6 months into this mess and that's a place I don't want to be again.

There's an element of risk in everything we do every day. That's why most people dont cross a road without looking, or dance in a slippery shower, or run with a sharp knife. I could get mown down walking on a footpath if a car slides out of control (happens more often than you'd think!) The only alternative is to never leave the house again.

This isn't going away any time soon, it's been two years already. I just cant obsess over it for my own sanity. I've had to accept that unless I sit in the house 24/7 and make my dc do the same, at some point I probably will catch it.

“they're scared of having to isolate over Christmas.”
I can assure you most people with covid isolate from their job. Not the shops!

@MrsHastingslikethebattle

Theres a difference between goverment panicking about a flu season every winter and introducing restrictions (many making no medical sense such as covid passports) every winter as they seem now.

I have had Covid, I have known a few people to have it. 2 of them in their 50s, fell quite ill.
So I know what it does. So do other people.

But after 2 years of changing goal posts, contradictory rules, governments own breaking of them, people are now realising gettinf Covid is like getting any other illnesses and viruses, it can harm, cause death and it's a part of life.

People die every day, people are in hospital due natural causes, accidents, self inflicted such as smoking, alcohol and obesity.

People are tired of stopping life to protect every life.
People are tired of having their lives, children's lives and mental health affected to the point where people are willing to take risks and are not scared of getting the virus.

I'm not scared of Covid, I'm scared of the governments reaction to Covid.

You don't speak for other people.

Anecdotally, where I live, we are having a major outbreak of Omicron. I don't even live in a city. Even many McDonald's have closed as they can't be staffed, as well as many pubs, restaurants and many businesses. The other day, perversely, the mask requirement for shops was dropped. I popped to the shops quickly yesterday and I'd estimate half weren't wearing masks - frightening in a major outbreak. I don't know who could be carrying the infection or not - and in in area of our size, there is a good statistical chance that there would be some. Judge away, but before you do, I'm CEV and unboostered as yet and deserve to be able to move around my community.

And on it continues.

My DD currently has covid. Picked up on lft on Sunday and had a positive pcr on Tuesday. She's had worse colds. So 10 days isolation for her and I can't go into my place of work as I'm a nurse and household contact means I can't go in.

I'm so fed up of this

@Waxonwaxoff0
@cassgate

To say “it’s not my job - it’s the government’s job to protect the NHS”.

If it’s solely up to our government due to lack of funding (although I’m not denying the NHS should be better funded) - why are governments across Europe/globally enforcing pretty similar measures?

If one country, globally - was ‘getting this right’ and behaving in the way you’d like to see - a country with a healthcare system that is so well resourced, that no measures are needed - a country that is not restricting their population’s freedoms in any way, and has a low death toll - who would that be?

I think the concern this time is not deaths (though they will happen). It’s the fact that there could be a few weeks with a number of services affected - and that could have a huge impact on most of us.

I agree but it's the 10 days isolation that will do it. The vast majority of people I know have been at worst a couple of days headache / upset stomach. I think we will probably need to get to the stage where anyone vulnerable shields for a month or so and everyone else continues to work / shop for the vulnerable as long as they're well enough.

If what they're saying is true with 1million cases a day by the end of the month then I think this is the only realistic answer. And surely it should burn itself out pretty quickly at that rate...

The measures are not just about personal risk, it’s about reducing the infection rate for us all. I’ve just read a news article about the risk of Covid in pregnancy. I’m vaccinated, booster tomorrow - I hope the risk to my family is low - but if me/my children/my partner were infectious - and unwittingly passed it on (e.g my asymptomatic son attending a toddler group and infecting a pregnant Mum there) - then I can see why measures are so important.

I will be curbing my freedoms to protect others.

@bumbleymummy

At this point, the policies are more of an issue than the virus itself.

Completely agree that this is the actual issue. We need to start living with this now. People will get it and aren’t getting very ill so far. The isolation period is too long and causing issues and the rules are nonsensical.

@DarknessAndLight @bumbleymummy

Then why are similar policies being introduced across Europe/globally. Are you saying the whole world is over reacting? Or do you think that there might just be a cause for concern?
Do you think the overwhelming number of governments and health professionals globally think protecting healthcare systems is vital? Protecting anyone who might need hospital cate?
Or - do you think we should have a survival of the fittest type scenario where you can have your freedoms, but those needing hospital care receive a poorly inadequate service?
No government left wing/right wing wants that. The only political party who comes close to that ideal in the UK are reformUK. Is that what you want?

Care not cate

What if it got to the stage that a hospital is so overwhelmed and understaffed that it simply cannot take another patient? What if that next patient was a child/pregnant mother - or you?

Aaah your one of those . One of the ones who probably enjoyed timing Mr Jones at number 3 when he went out for a walk and expecting him to live ny 1 hour rules that never existed.

The infa structure isn't getting ant funding any time soon so how long do you expect people to live in fear hiding in their House in a bundle made of hamd sanitiser ?

I swear sone people are only happy when everyone's living in misery.

The politicians don't even give a shit. Why should we?

How much nore do you want people to give up before you are happy ?

Frankly if I'm going to catch it I'd rather catch it with kids at school and me at work actually seeing another adult fir a few hours.

I'm already a single mother who only works part time. How much more isolation do you think I should endure.

I see the bigger picture but as someone with no dependents I put myself first, not society, and will continue to do as I please, be that going to parties and going to cinemas etc. I’m done with wearing useless masks. Life’s for living.

And what’s the point fearing something that’s inevitable? If I get it I’ve more chance of being hospitalised from cancer or the effects of cancer treatment, I think.

@Whatwouldscullydo - are you referring to me?

I’d prefer if you just answered the questions I posed with a reasonable debate. Rather than dismissing me as ‘one of those’.

The fear mongering is ridiculous and all the pessimistic and worst case scenario numbers are terrifying people.
It’s causing severe anxiety in so many people.
That’s probably because the government have used behavioural psychologists to utilise the perception of threat are to terrify us into submission.
People are isolated and fearful for their lives when the actual threat so far, does not appear to be as severe as it’s made out to be.

@paranoidnamechanger - so if you/anyone else gets cancer and can’t access hospital treatment? Would that bother you?

People are no longer scared as we have been desensitized to it.
When all we hear is that the majority who have died have had underlying health issues or/and have been in their 80s and 90s we instantly note that we are in neither group so it's not dangerous. Even though it is.

For all those that have lost someone dear to them from or with Covid your have me deepest sympathy. My post is in no way trying to say Covid is not serious. Merely to highlight how I think humans rationalize risk and why they act like they do in the face of that risk.

It's repeated through history. There are tragic stories of families killed in air raids in WW2 because they didn't go to their shelter when the sirens went off because whenever they did go off nothing happened in their area.

How people act now over Covid has parallels.

Nah it was to the op.

@DarknessAndLight - then why is there a global reaction to this - are you saying every government worldwide is fear mongering - including the World Health Organisation?

Op you can't change how people feel so I don't really understand what you mean .
What's the difference between being locked down and everyone being off sick ? There's no more furlough, so are you comfortable with families losing their income because you think everyone needs to be scared ?
Anything that happens now from travel bans to lockdowns are just political tactics, as nothing has helped and everything is pointless with the regular mutations .
If you still believe another lockdown is the answer.....does this apply to infinity with each mutation? Just curious

You cant deny that there hasn't been huge benefits ti being able to get away with providing poor service and poor provision etc contracts handed to mates of politicians. Classes able to finish early fie cleaning so you pay the same.prices fir 45 mins.as u did for an hour.

Transport services cut back etc

I mean it took then no time at all to decide they weren't gonna give ventilators to the disabled and sending the elderly to die in homes . Making damn sure everyone was too scared to step foot in a&e.

Meanwhile could apparently doesn't spread if u have a saucepan in your hand.

I cant speak for anyone else but lockdown.was the final nail.in the coffin fir a ltr and still the sacrifices people have made don't appear to have been noticed let alone be enough.

[quote Beadebaser]@paranoidnamechanger - so if you/anyone else gets cancer and can’t access hospital treatment? Would that bother you?[/quote]
Of course but the NHS has been up shit creek for years. It’s not my job to help it in some way, my taxes are enough.

I want to know how much each lateral flow test is costing the NHS. Even if they are only £1 each that’s a massive daily drain which could be used so much better within the service.

[quote Beadebaser]@DarknessAndLight - then why is there a global reaction to this - are you saying every government worldwide is fear mongering - including the World Health Organisation?[/quote]
It’s interesting isn’t it?
It doesn’t make sense that countries are restricting their citizens more and more when it goes against the democracy and freedoms that they stood for.

It becomes a viscous circle- the more the state tells us what to do and dictates our freedoms, the less able we are to make good judgment about what is and isn’t safe, so the more we look to the state and the cycle goes on.
It is a bit like Stockholm syndrome as someone on another thread mentioned.
It’s demonstrated clearly by the fact that some restrictions are rules and some are guidelines, but many want the whole lot to be rules because it makes them feel safer, whether or not they actually are.